DE112011104739B4 - Information management device and information management system for mobile information terminals - Google Patents

Abstract

An information management apparatus provided in a management center that manages communication and reception of information between a plurality of mobile information terminals each provided in a plurality of vehicles by wireless communication, the information management apparatus comprising: a post information management unit, the location information, and posting Information that is posted by the mobile information terminals and that combines the received location information and the post information and manages the location information and the post information; A weighting device, wherein the vehicle automatically transmits information indicating the change in the driving environment along with the location information of the vehicle based on detection of a change in a driving environment, and wherein the weighting device sends the post information and the location information based on a combination of the information indicating the change in the driving environment and the information posted via the mobile information terminals weighted; and a transmission control unit that, in response to a request from any of the mobile information terminals, selects the managed location information and the managed post information corresponding to the request, and the selected location information and the selected post information, preferably the post information and transmit the high priority location information based on the weight, the transmission control unit transmitting the selected location information and the selected post information to the mobile information terminal that sent the request to a display device of the mobile information terminal that sent the request; to allow the selected posting information to be displayed in a superimposing manner at a location of map information indicated by the selected location information, wherein ...

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to an information management apparatus provided in a management center which manages communication and reception of information between a plurality of mobile information terminals provided in a plurality of vehicles by wireless communication, and an information management system for mobile information terminals comprising the mobile information terminals and the information management device.

State of the art

For example, a vehicle as a mobile body often includes a mobile information terminal or a car navigation system that is configured to assist in driving the vehicle by displaying a current location of the vehicle and a route from the current location to a destination on map information. The map information in the car navigation system usually includes information about facilities near a road together with road information for illustrating an arrangement of the road itself. Thus, the car navigation system also displays information about facilities or the like near the road together with the road information as the map information.

Since contents of information about facilities or the like are frequently changed as compared with the road information, it is not easy for the car navigation system to renew the contents of the information about the facilities or the like each time the information is changed, and always be up-to-date to keep. As a result, methods are resulted which allow a car navigation system to keep the contents of information about the devices, such as facility evaluation information, up to date, one of which is described in Patent Document 1. A facility information transmission system described in Patent Document 1 has a mobile information terminal (navigation device) provided for displaying map information in a vehicle and an information management device (data server) provided for sending a facility list to the mobile information terminal outside the vehicle. The information management device sends, to the mobile information terminal, a request to a user of the vehicle to input a rating on facilities, and displays the rating on a screen of the mobile information terminal. The mobile information terminal sends a user response to the question to the mobile information terminal. The information management device stores the answer to the question (user evaluation) returned from the mobile information terminal in association with facilities. Then, when the facility list is sent to the mobile information terminal, the information management apparatus sends the stored user evaluation data together with the facility list to the mobile information terminal. Thus, the mobile information terminal, on the screen of the mobile information terminal, displays the user evaluation contents regarding the facilities registered in the facility list together with the location information about the facilities. As a result, the user rating content of facilities is updated.

From the DE 69 535 394 T2 Further, a traffic information system is known which notifies traffic information such as traffic congestion information, accident information and weather information to a vehicle traveling on a road. The US Pat. No. 6,587,777 B1 also describes a system and method for location-based delivery of traffic information to vehicles. From the US 2003/0 083 079 A1 There is also known a method and system for communicating standardized telematics messages among a plurality of telematics devices. The DE 196 04 084 A1 further teaches a method and apparatus for determining dynamic traffic information or traffic events. From the US 2008/0 076 451 A1 Furthermore, a system and a method are known according to which users can search for information and submit assessments for facilities in a position-dependent manner.

DOCUMENT FROM THE PRIOR ART

• Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-11962

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Object of the invention

According to the facility information transmission system described in Patent Document 1, the user evaluation contents regarding facilities as described above are reliably updated. However, such user evaluation contents regarding facilities are limited to answers to questions, and the user equipment evaluation contents themselves are inevitably limited. Further The device information transfer system described in this document combines information only with devices included in the map information. That is, the facility information transmission system of this document also has a problem in that information regarding facilities not included in the map information can not be transmitted. In particular, due to the popularization of various types of mobile information terminals in recent years, users often become information providers at an individual level. Consequently, there is an increasing need to display provided information on map information, not just information associated with facilities.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an information management device and an information management system for mobile information terminals, with which also information voluntarily provided by a user can be flexibly displayed and weighted in a suitable manner.

Below, a mobile information terminal is first described, which is in connection with the information management device according to the invention and the information management system according to the invention.

A mobile information terminal collects location information and post information that have been wirelessly communicated by an information management apparatus owned by a management center in a state in which the location information and the post information are linked with each other; and controls a kind of display from a display device such that the detected post information is displayed in a superimposing manner at a location of map information displayed by the acquired location information.

According to this configuration, since the location information is associated with the post information, the mobile information terminal can display the post information on the map information about the mobile information terminal based on this location information. Since the location information is linked to the post information as described above, the mobile information terminal can display the post information flexibly at any location on the map information without being limited to facilities or the like on the map. Further, since the restrictions of the location information associated with the post information are reduced, a post information item is simplified, so that the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved. Specifically, according to this configuration, since the information management device handles the location information displayed as a location on the map information via the mobile information terminal, control of the mobile information terminal for displaying the post information on the map information via the mobile information terminal is easy.

The mobile information terminal displays post information on the map information about the mobile information terminal in a superimposing manner. Consequently, even if post information is given irregularly to the mobile information terminal, a user can be reliably supplied with information at a high real time level, indicating that the corresponding post information is in the map information being displayed , is available. As a result, the mobile information terminal can easily renew not only post information that has been collected in the information management device for some time, but also post information collected at the last minute in the information management device, in a superordinate manner Way in which map information is displayed. Such new information is useful to a user who uses this information to capture the current traffic situation or ongoing events in that area.

The posting information that has been posted together with the location information is preferably information that has been posted from another mobile information terminal to the information management device via wireless communication.

According to such a configuration, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved because the mobile information terminal can use more post information.

The location information and the post information that have been wirelessly communicated from the other mobile information terminal to the information management apparatus preferably include information that has been automatically sent from the other mobile information terminal based on an event occurring in the other mobile information terminal has occurred.

According to such a configuration, post information from the mobile information terminal at which an event has occurred is automatically sent to the information management device based on the event that has occurred in the mobile information terminal. Consequently, the post information can be automatically posted from the mobile information terminal. Accordingly, the quality (novelty) and the quantity of post information held by the information management device are improved, and the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved.

The posting information that has been posted along with the location information preferably includes information that has been posted by a terminal that is connected to the information management device via a public network.

According to such a configuration, the information management apparatus can provide the mobile information terminal with post information collected in a server or the like connected to the information management apparatus via a public network such as the Internet. Thus, post information provided by the information managing apparatus for the mobile information terminal is based on one or more pieces of post information owned by a plurality of servers or the like connected to a public network. Consequently, the number of pieces of post information provided by the information managing device for the mobile information terminal can be automatically increased. Accordingly, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved.

The mobile information terminal is preferably a vehicle-mountable information terminal that is mounted in a vehicle.

According to such a configuration, even in a vehicle that is traveling fast and needs to collect information effectively, the mobile information terminal displays posting information on the map information. Thus, the mobile information terminal may provide newer information to a user, such as a driver of a vehicle.

In particular, when the mobile information terminal uses a traveling speed of a vehicle in which the mobile information terminal is mounted as an event (parameter) that triggers automatic transmission of post information, a display device may, in an overlying manner, congestion information about a View nearby street that has been posted by another mobile information terminal in real time. Thus, the mobile information terminal can provide information and the like useful for driving.

The mobile information terminal preferably further has a function of converting the posting information of voice data into character data and sending the converted post information to the information managing device.

According to such a configuration, while driving a vehicle that can not easily input information by means of characters, a user can also voice-mail information to the mobile information terminal. This simplifies posting of information at a high real time level from the mobile information terminal, and improves a quantity and quality of post information collected in the information management apparatus. Consequently, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information can be further improved.

Further, since users of the mobile information terminals are limited, voice-to-voice conversion is suitably adapted to the voices of the limited users, and voice data given to the mobile information terminal can be converted into character data. Accordingly, accurate voice-to-character conversion can be performed as well.

The object of the present invention is achieved by an information management device according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject matter of the subclaims.

According to this configuration, since the location information is associated with the post information, the mobile information terminal can display the post information based on this location information on the map information of the mobile information terminal. Since the location information is linked to the post information as described above, the mobile information terminal can flexibly display the post information at any location on the map information without being limited by facilities or the like on the map. Further, since the limitations of the location information associated with the post information are reduced, posting information is simplified, so that the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved. In particular, according to this configuration, since the Information management apparatus that handles location information displayed as a location on the map information of the mobile information terminal, a controller of the mobile information terminal for displaying the post information on the map information of the mobile information terminal easily.

The mobile information terminal displays post information in a superimposing manner on the map information of the mobile information terminal. Consequently, even if post information is given irregularly to the mobile information terminal, a user can be reliably supplied with information at a high real time level, indicating that the corresponding post information is in the map information being displayed , is available. As a result, the mobile information terminal can easily renew not only post information that has been collected in the information management device for some time, but also post information collected at the last minute in the information management device, in a superordinate manner Way in which map information is displayed. Such new information is useful to a user who uses this information to capture the current traffic situation or ongoing events in that area.

Further, the information management apparatus selects post information and location information transmitted to a mobile information terminal in response to a request from this mobile information terminal. Thus, the information management apparatus can appropriately provide the mobile information terminal with the post information required by the mobile information terminal. Upon request of information from the mobile information terminal based on the current location information from this mobile information terminal, the information management device transmits, for example, information (post information) about a short range of the current location of a requestor's mobile information terminal. Further, when contents of information requested by a requestor's mobile information terminal could be determined, information management information corresponding to the specific contents is transmitted to the requestor's mobile information terminal in addition to the current location information of the mobile information terminal of the requestor inquirer.

Although the information management device manages post information posted from the mobile information terminal, a post office that posts post information is a mobile information terminal, and the information management device is not the source of the post information. As a result, maintenance management with respect to the generation of the post information and the guarantee of the credibility of post information becomes easy.

The information management apparatus preferably receives, as information based on an operation of a user of the mobile information terminal, the post information which is posted together with the location information.

According to such a configuration, post information is posted to the information management device by user operation of the mobile information terminal. According to this configuration, the information management device Posting information associated with location information of a mobile information terminal other than a requestor requesting posting information can be received by a mobile information terminal different from the requestor. Thereby, the information management device can manage post information of various mobile information terminals together with location information. A user of any mobile information terminal can easily post the post information with location information of the post office mobile information terminal to the information management device.

The posting information that is posted together with the location information preferably includes information that has been automatically sent from the mobile information terminal based on an event that has occurred in the mobile information terminal.

According to such a configuration, post information from the mobile information terminal at which an event has occurred is automatically sent to the information management device based on the event. Consequently, the post information from the mobile information terminal can be automatically posted to the information management device. This improves the quality (novelty) and the quantity of post information held by the information management device or the like, and also improves the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information.

A terminal is preferably connected to the information management apparatus via a public network, and the location information and the post information managed by the post information management unit are designated preferably information that has been posted by the terminal that is connected to the public network.

According to such a configuration, the information management apparatus can provide the mobile information terminal with posting information that is collected in a server or the like connected to the information management apparatus via a public network such as the Internet. Thus, post information given by the information management device to the mobile information terminal is based on one or more post information owned by multiple servers or the like connected to a public network. Consequently, the number of pieces of post information that can be given by the information management device to the mobile information terminal is automatically increased. Accordingly, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved.

Although post information with which location information corresponding to map information of the mobile information terminal is not linked, may be present in some cases under post information collected in a server or the like, the information management device may use location information associated with map information of the mobile information terminal, as well as linking with such post information. Even if location information sent as a request from the mobile information terminal to the information management apparatus is not used for retrieving post information collected in a server or the like, the information management apparatus may use such location information for retrieving post information. by converting the location information into location information corresponding to map information of the mobile information terminal.

The mobile information terminal is preferably a vehicle-mountable information terminal that is mounted in a vehicle.

According to such a configuration, even in a vehicle that needs to travel quickly and collect information effectively, the mobile information terminal displays posting information on the map information. Thus, the mobile information terminal may provide newer information to a user, such as a driver of a vehicle.

In particular, when the mobile information terminal uses a traveling speed of a vehicle in which the mobile information terminal is mounted as an event (parameter) that triggers automatic transmission of post information, a display device may, in an overlying manner, congestion information about a Viewing nearby road posted by another mobile information terminal in real time. Thus, the mobile information terminal can provide information and the like useful for driving.

The information management apparatus preferably further has a function of converting the posting information of voice data into character data received together with the location information and managing the converted post information.

According to such a configuration, while driving a vehicle that can not easily input information by means of characters, a user can also voice-mail information to the mobile information terminal. This simplifies posting of information at a high real time level from the mobile information terminal, and improves a quantity and quality of post information collected in the information management apparatus. Consequently, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information can be further improved. Further, since the voice-to-character conversion processing is performed with a relatively high computational load by the information management device, a computational load of the mobile information terminal can be reduced. Although the information management apparatus has a high computational load, accurate voice-to-character conversion processing can be performed.

The object is further achieved by an information management system for mobile information terminals according to claim 6. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to this configuration, since the location information is associated with the post information, the mobile information terminal can display the post information based on this location information on the map information of the mobile information terminal. Since the location information is linked to the post information as described above, the mobile information terminal can flexibly display the post information at any location on the map information without being limited by facilities or the like on the map. Furthermore, as the restrictions of the location information associated with the post information are reduced, a post of the posting Information is facilitated so that the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the posting information is also improved. In particular, according to this configuration, since the information management device handles the location information displayed as a location on the map information of the mobile information terminal, control of the mobile information terminal for displaying the post information on the map information of the mobile information terminal is easy.

The mobile information terminal displays post information in a superimposing manner on the map information of the mobile information terminal. Consequently, even if post information is given irregularly to the mobile information terminal, a user can be reliably supplied with information at a high real time level, indicating that the corresponding post information is in the map information being displayed , is available. As a result, the mobile information terminal can easily renew not only post information that has been collected in the information management device for some time, but also post information collected at the last minute in the information management device, in a superordinate manner Way in which map information is displayed. Such new information is useful to a user who uses this information to capture the current traffic situation or current events in the area.

Further, the information management apparatus selects post information and location information transmitted to a mobile information terminal in response to a request from this mobile information terminal. Thus, the information management apparatus can appropriately supply the mobile information terminal with the post information required by the mobile information terminal. For example, in response to a request for information from a mobile information terminal based on current location information from this mobile information terminal, the information management device transmits information (posting information) about a current location of the requestor's mobile information terminal. Further, when contents of information requested by a requestor's mobile information terminal could be determined, information management information corresponding to the specific contents is transmitted to the requestor's mobile information terminal in addition to the current location information of the mobile information terminal of the requestor inquirer.

Although the information management apparatus manages post information posted from the mobile information terminal, a post office that posts post information is a mobile information terminal and the information management apparatus is not the source of the post information. As a result, maintenance management with respect to the generation of the post information and the guarantee of the credibility of post information becomes easy.

The information management apparatus preferably receives, as information based on an operation of a user of any of the mobile information terminals, the post information which is posted together with the location information.

According to such a configuration, post information is posted to the information management device by user operation of the mobile information terminal. According to this configuration, the information management device Posting information associated with location information of a mobile information terminal other than a requestor requesting posting information can be received by a mobile information terminal different from the requestor. Thereby, the information management device can manage post information of various mobile information terminals together with location information. A user of any mobile information terminal can easily post the post information with location information of the post office mobile information terminal to the information management device.

The posting information that is posted along with the location information preferably includes information that has been automatically sent from the mobile information terminal based on an event that has occurred in the mobile information terminal.

According to such a configuration, post information from the mobile information terminal at which an event has occurred is automatically sent to the information management device based on the event. Consequently, the post information from the mobile information terminal can be automatically posted to the information management device. Accordingly, the quality (novelty) and the quantity of post information held by the information management device are improved, and the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved.

A terminal is preferably connected to the information management device via a public network, and the location information and the post information managed by the post information management unit preferably include information posted from the terminal connected to the public network ,

According to such a configuration, the information management apparatus can provide the mobile information terminal with post information collected in a server or the like connected to the information management apparatus via a public network such as the Internet. Thus, post information provided by the information managing device for the mobile information terminal is based on one or more post information owned by a plurality of servers or the like connected to a public network. Consequently, the number of pieces of post information provided by the information managing device for the mobile information terminal can be automatically increased. Accordingly, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information is also improved.

Although post information with which location information corresponding to map information of the mobile information terminal is not linked, may be present in some cases under post information collected in a server or the like, the information management device may use location information associated with map information of the mobile information terminal, as well as linking with such post information. Even if location information sent as a request from the mobile information terminal to the information management apparatus is not used for retrieving post information collected in a server or the like, the information management apparatus may use such location information for retrieving post information. by converting the location information into location information corresponding to map information of the mobile information terminal.

The mobile information terminals are preferably information terminal devices attachable to a vehicle, which are each mounted in one of a plurality of vehicles.

According to such a configuration, even in a vehicle that needs to travel quickly and collect information effectively, the mobile information terminal displays posting information on the map information. Thus, the mobile information terminal may provide newer information to a user, such as a driver of a vehicle.

In particular, when the mobile information terminal uses a traveling speed of a vehicle in which the mobile information terminal is mounted as an event (parameter) that triggers automatic transmission of post information, a display device may, in an overlying manner, congestion information about a Viewing nearby road posted by another mobile information terminal in real time. Consequently, the mobile information terminal can effectively provide information for a driving operation and the like.

Each of the mobile information terminals preferably has a function of converting the posting information of voice data into character data and sending the converted post information to the information managing device.

According to such a configuration, while driving a vehicle that can not easily input information by means of characters, a user can also voice-mail information to the mobile information terminal. This simplifies posting of information at a high real-time level from the mobile information terminal or the like, and improves a quantity and quality of post information collected in the information management apparatus. Consequently, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information can be further improved.

Further, since users of the mobile information terminals are limited, voice-to-voice conversion is suitably adapted to the voices of the limited users, and voice data given to the mobile information terminal can be converted into character data. Accordingly, accurate voice-to-character conversion can be performed as well.

The post information management unit preferably further has a function of converting the post information of voice data received in character data and managing the converted post information together with the location information.

According to such a configuration, even while driving a vehicle that can not easily input information by means of characters, a user can post information by Give voice to the mobile information terminal. This simplifies posting of information at a high real time level from the mobile information terminal, and improves a quantity and quality of post information collected in the information management apparatus. Consequently, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using the post information can be further improved. Further, since the voice-to-character conversion processing is performed with a relatively high computational load by the information management device, a computational load of the mobile information terminal can be reduced. Although the information management apparatus has a high computational load, accurate voice-to-character conversion processing can be performed.

The vehicle includes: detection means for detecting a change in a driving environment of the vehicle, and communication means for automatically transmitting information indicative of the change in the driving environment detected by the detection means together with location information of the vehicle to the information management apparatus. The information management apparatus further comprises: weighting means for weighting the post information and the location information based on a combination of information automatically sent from the communication device and information that has been posted via the mobile information terminal. The transmission control unit transmits the posting information and the location information with high priorities preferably based on the weighting to a mobile information terminal requesting transmission of the post information.

According to such a configuration, the information management device weights information based on a combination of: information having location information and post information automatically sent from the communication device; and information posted via the mobile information terminal. As a result, the information management device can provide post information with priority. In the case of posting information, which is usually difficult to prioritize because it lacks regularity, this configuration allows priority to be given to such posting information and transmits the information management device posting information and location information on the Basis of priority to the mobile information terminal. Consequently, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using post information taking priority into consideration is further improved.

The information management apparatus, for example, gives low-level information of low priority and information of high accuracy level, for example, a high priority. This can improve the accuracy of post information provided by the mobile information terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline configuration of a mobile information terminal information management system according to a first embodiment useful in understanding the present invention; FIG.

2 FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a manner of processing information in the 1 shown information management system for mobile information terminals;

3 FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of one of the FIG 2 shown administrative center;

4 FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating an example of an operation regarding information provision of the type described in FIG 2 shown information management system for mobile information terminals;

5 FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the operation regarding the information provision of FIG 2 shown information management system for mobile information terminals;

6 FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing an example of an operation relating to a post of information of FIG 2 shown information management system for mobile information terminals;

7 FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an outline configuration of a mobile information terminal information management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

8th shows a schematic diagram illustrating a way of posting information in the 7 shown information management system for mobile information terminals;

9 shows a list of priorities that are given for information related to that in the 7 posted administrative center is posted;

10 shows a schematic illustration illustrating an example of operation for in the 7 shown information management system for mobile information terminals;

11 FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing another example of operation regarding a post of information of FIG 6 shown information management system for mobile information terminals; and

12 shows a schematic illustration for illustrating a further operating example with respect to in the 7 shown information management system for mobile information terminals.

First Embodiment

Hereinafter, an information management system for mobile information terminals according to a first embodiment, which serves to understand the present invention, with reference to 1 described. It should be noted here that the following second embodiment embodies the present invention based on the first embodiment.

The information management system for mobile information terminals has, as in 1 shown an information management device 10A in an administrative center 10 is provided, and a navigation system 23 Making a mobile information terminal that is in a vehicle 20 is fastened on. In this embodiment, first, a relationship between the one vehicle 20 and the administrative center 10 described. It should be noted, however, that the information management system, as will be described later, is also applied to a configuration in which multiple vehicles 20 with an administrative center 10 communicate. The navigation system 23 can wirelessly with the information management device 10A communicate. An external public network 40 , such as the Internet, is so with the administrative center 10 connected that data to the administrative center 10 sent and from the administrative center 10 can be received.

The public network 40 is the internet. Connected to the public network 40 are data servers 41 and 42 containing various types of information including posting information posted (uploaded) by a user and a query server 43 , the information that matches a particular keyword from various types of information, including post information, over the public network 40 can be accessed queries. A terminal 44 such as a mobile phone and a PC, from the information on the public network 40 to the data servers 41 and 42 is posted as well with the public network 40 connected.

As the administrative center 10 Serves, as needed, a service of the administrative center 10 for the vehicle 20 a user can only be a vehicle 20 a user with access to the administration center 10 access. According to this configuration, neither of a user's vehicle can be accessed without an access right, nor by a user without access authorization via the public network 40 on the administrative center 10 be accessed. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the vehicle 20 on the administrative center 10 can access.

The administrative center 10 has the information management device 10A , a network communication device 11 that is a data communication with the public network 40 and a vehicle communication device 12 providing mutual and wireless data communication with the vehicle 20 executes on. The information management device 10A provides a post information service voluntarily posted by a user as information that is not managed by facilities. That is, the information management device 10A receives and holds posting information, for example, from the vehicle 20 is posted, and posts posting information with a request from the navigation system 23 of the vehicle 20 matches the vehicle 20 ,

The information management device 10A has an information providing device 13 as a transmission control unit, the post information or the like to the vehicle 20 and an information registration management device 14 as a posting information management unit that captures post information or the like voluntarily from a user of the vehicle 20 or the like, and manage their registration. The information management device 10A has a center voice recognition device 15 which performs voice-to-character conversion for converting voice data into character data, and a memory device 16 in which captured post information is stored. The information management device 10A also has an information retrieval device 17 on, which is designed to provide posting information that meets query conditions, from posting information stored in the storage device 16 is stored, or posting information, over the public network 40 be accessed can interrogate. The information management device 10A and the vehicle 20 are designed such that sharing of location information between the information management device 10A and the vehicle 20 is kept at a high level by providing the same location information of the same specifications from both the information management device 10A as well as from the vehicle 20 is used, such as location information of specifications, for example, for map information of the navigation system 23 is used.

The information providing device 13 , the information registration management device 14 , the center voice recognition device 15 and the information retrieval device 17 each have a computing device (not shown) that mainly comprises microcomputers. That is, each of the microcomputers has the computing device, a storage device, a nonvolatile memory (ROM) and a volatile memory (RAM), and various types of information processing operations based on various types of data and programs stored in the memory device and the respective memories are executed by the microcomputer. Alternatively, some of the information providing device 13 , the information registration management device 14 , the center voice recognition device 15 and the information retrieval device 17 to share a microcomputer.

The network communication device 11 is via a wired line or a wireless connection to the public network 40 connected, and the network communication device 11 allows wireless communication between the management center 10 and the data servers 41 and 42 or the query server 43 connected to the public network 40 are connected.

The vehicle communication device 12 enables various types of data communication, including post information and location information, between the management center 10 and the vehicle 20 , Through this data communication, the management center receives 10 Posting information coming from the vehicle 20 or a transmission request from a user of the vehicle 20 containing a transmission of posting information that matches query conditions made by a user of the vehicle 20 be determined by the administrative center 10 to the vehicle 20 requests, and sends the management center 10 as well posting information that matches the delivery request to the vehicle 20 ,

The information providing device 13 receives from the vehicle 20 via the vehicle communication device 12 , a transmission request that includes polling conditions of posting information that a user wishes to use, and then causes the information polling device 17 Posting information that matches the query conditions contained in the transmission request, in the storage device 16 or the public network 40 requests and records. The query condition imposed by the information providing device 13 from the vehicle 20 for retrieving the posting information comprises at least one of location information representing a specific location such as a travel destination of the vehicle 20 indicates the current location information of the vehicle 20 or keyword information regarding contents of posting information. When the information providing device 13 Posting information that matches posting information provided by the user of the vehicle 20 is determined in the storage device 16 or the public network 40 detects the information providing device 13 the vehicle 20 the detected post information about the vehicle communication device 12 ready.

The information registration management device 14 receives posting information in the vehicle 20 is posted, and location information corresponding to this post information about the vehicle communication device 12 from the vehicle 20 and confirms whether the received location information is associated with the received post information. If not linked, the information registration management device links 14 the location information with the posting information. The post information and the location information are linked together by combining the post information and the location information into a file by storing the post information and the location information with file names indicating the link between them or by posting Information and the location information are registered in a link list stored in the storage device 16 is stored to be linked together. In this way, the information management device 10A manage the received post information to be linked to the location information.

If posting information coming from the vehicle 20 is posted, posting information by data servers 41 and 42 in the public network 40 is detected, and the like are voice data, the center voice recognition device performs 15 a voice-to-character conversion for converting the voice data into character data. In order to reach that vehicle 20 Posting information coming from the administrative center 10 is transmitted in a superimposing manner to map information of a display device 23A in the navigation system 23 becomes the center voice recognition device 15 used to be from the administrative center 10 transmitted post information to convert information that has character data. Further, if a user of the vehicle 20 by voice or the like, a command to the administrative center 10 there, the center voice recognition device 15 used to identify the command contents in the user's language.

The storage device 16 is a memory device of known type designed to be out of the devices 13 to 15 and 17 the information management device 10A to read and into the devices 13 to 15 and 17 the information management device 10A to write. The storage device 16 keeps posting information from the vehicle 20 , Location information associated with this posting information, a transmission request of post information from the vehicle 20 , the query condition of posting information and the like.

The information retrieval device 17 Queries posting information that meets query conditions, including location information and a keyword, from posting information stored in the storage device 16 is stored, and detects a query result. The information retrieval device 17 asks for posting information in the data servers 41 and 42 the public network 40 is saved by its own query function based on the query condition, including the location information and the keyword, and captures a query result. Further, the information retrieval device provides 17 the query condition with the location information and the keyword for the query server 43 the public network 40 ready to cause the query server 43 Posting information and the like queries in the data servers 41 and 42 is stored, and detects the information retrieval device 17 a query result from the query server 43 , If there are specifications of location information in the public network 40 and specifications of location information provided by the information management device 10A is used to distinguish from each other, the information retrieval device converts 17 the specifications of the location information provided by the information management device 10A is used, and the specifications of the location information in the public network 40 mutually. According to this transformation, the information retrieval device transforms 17 then if the information retrieval device 17 Posting information that meets query conditions using location information in the public network 40 queries, specifications of location information of the administrative center 10 in specifications of the location information in the public network 40 , In contrast, the information retrieval device converts 17 Specifications of location information coming from the public network 40 is recorded in specifications of location information of the administrative center 10 , The information retrieval device 17 collects post information and location information according to this posting information from the query result.

The vehicle 20 comprising: a vehicle-mounted communication device 21 for wireless communication with the administrative center 10 , an environmental determination device 22 as a communication device via a network attachable to a vehicle 25 for data communication with the vehicle-mounted communication device 21 to connect, and the navigation system 23 as a communication device. In this embodiment, the environmental determining device form 22 and the navigation system 23 the mobile information terminal that is in the vehicle 20 is attached. Although the environmental determining device 22 and the navigation system 23 be described separately in this embodiment, the environmental determining device 22 in the navigation system 23 be integrated, ie, the navigation system 23 have an automatic item function. The vehicle 20 indicates: a windshield wiper 30 , a camera attachable to a vehicle 31 , a data recorder (EDR) 32 , a vehicle speed sensor 33 and a microphone attachable to a vehicle 34 as a detection device, which can be attached via a vehicle that can be fastened to a vehicle 35 for data communication with the environmental determining device 22 and the navigation system 23 are connected. The attachable to a vehicle networks 25 and 35 can use networks such as CAN (Controller Area Network), Ethernet (protected trademark), and FlexRay (protected trademark). The attachable to a vehicle networks 25 and 35 may be separate vehicle-mountable networks or the same vehicle-mountable network. As a connection between the devices 21 to 23 and 30 to 34 of the vehicle 20 For example, a connection other than a network connection such as a serial connection may be used as long as data communication of required information can be performed. The devices 21 to 23 and 30 to 34 can be connected to each other via a radio link or a wired connection.

Because the windscreen wiper 30 an integrated windscreen wiper ECU, which controls the operation of the windscreen wiper 30 Controls, gives the windshield wiper 30 Operating data, such as information about a state of the windshield wiper 30 , Information about whether the windshield wiper 30 is in operation, and an operating speed of the windscreen wiper 30 during an operation.

As the attachable to a vehicle camera 31 an integrated camera ECU, which controls the operation of the vehicle mountable camera 31 controls, gives the attachable to a vehicle camera 31 Image data of a captured image from an area around the vehicle 20 around, from the camera attachable to a vehicle 31 is recorded.

The EDR 32 is a device for receiving data from the vehicle speed sensor 33 who is in the vehicle 20 is attached, and various types of other sensors (not shown) are input, and receives the data input from the various types of sensor under a predetermined condition.

Since the vehicle speed sensor 33 has an integrated sensor ECU, which controls a detection unit for detecting a vehicle speed, is the vehicle speed sensor 33 Vehicle speed data based on a speed of the vehicle 20 out.

The microphone attachable to a vehicle 34 is inside the vehicle 20 provided to collect (exempt) speech of a user, in particular of the driver. As the mountable on a vehicle microphone 34 an integrated ECU, the recorded voice to the vehicle mountable network 35 outputs gives the vehicle mountable microphone 34 Voice data with the recorded language.

The environment determination device 22 and the navigation system 23 each have computing devices (not shown) that mainly comprise microcomputers. That is, each of the microcomputers has the computing device, a storage device, a nonvolatile memory (ROM), a volatile memory (RAM), and the like, and various types of information processing operations based on various types of data and programs described in US Pat the storage device and the memories are stored are executed by the microcomputer. Alternatively, the environmental determining device 22 and the navigation system 23 to share a microcomputer.

The environment determination device 22 determines an environment of the vehicle 20 based on vehicle information, such as operating data, image data, vehicle speed data, and voice data generated by these devices 30 to 34 about the network attachable to a vehicle 35 be recorded. The environment determination device 22 for example, detects the weather based on operating data of the windshield wiper 30 , recognizes the environment of the vehicle based on image data, and determines a traffic situation, such as the presence or absence of traffic congestion, and a time required to be from the current driving location of the vehicle 20 from reaching a destination. Information such as the steering angle, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle 20 , of a thermometer, a humidity meter, an air pressure gauge, and the like of various types of sensors (not shown) to the environmental determining device 22 may be given, or it may be location information and map information from the navigation system 23 to the environmental determining device 22 are given. The environment determination device 22 determines an environment of the vehicle 20 and their environment based on this input information.

According to a result of the determination based on data from the devices 30 to 34 determines the environment determination device 22 Whether the determination result and the data are voluntary and automatic to the information management device 10A should be posted. Consequently, the environmental determining device 22 a threshold for determining whether information should be posted in accordance with the determination results. On the basis of a determination result satisfying conditions such as a result that the threshold value is exceeded, the environment determination device posts 22 these determination results and information, which displays the data as posting information, voluntarily and automatically to the management center 10 , together with the current location information of the vehicle 20 (Information showing the current location of the vehicle 20 indicates). When the environmental determining device 22 for example, from the operating data of the windshield wiper 30 that determines the windshield wiper 30 works continuously, posts the environment determination device 22 automatically posting information "rain" to the information management device 10A , together with the current location information of the vehicle 20 , Subsequently, if the Environment-determination device 22 from the operating data of the windscreen wiper 30 detects that the continuous operation of the windscreen wiper 30 stops, posts the environment determination device 22 automatically posting information "Rain has stopped" to the information management device 10A , together with the location information. Furthermore, the environment determination device posts 22 when the environmental determining device 22 detects that the value of the vehicle speed data is continuously changed in a low speed state, for example, automatically post information that "the road has a traffic jam" together with the location information to the information management device 10 , In contrast, the environment determination device posts 22 then, when the value of the vehicle speed data returns from the low speed to a normal vehicle speed, automatically post information indicating that the vehicle is "running" 20 no longer in traffic jam ", together with location information to the information management device 10A , Furthermore, the environment determination device posts 22 when the environmental determining device 22 Receiving error information from the vehicle-mountable devices and the like associated with the vehicle-mountable network 35 automatically posting information that an error has occurred in the vehicle-mountable device, together with the current location information of the vehicle 20 to the information management device 10A ,

The navigation system 23 captures the current location of the vehicle 20 by using a GPS (Global Positioning System, not shown) or the like. The navigation system 23 takes on the basis of the detected current location of the vehicle 20 on map information stored in the memory, to guide a driver or the like about a route of travel of the vehicle 20 to provide a travel destination by displaying the route as an image via the display device 23A indicates or guides the driver or the like by voice through a speaker (not shown).

An image display function of the display device 23A is from the navigation system 23 controlled, and the display device 23A shows character information and image information provided by the navigation system 23 be sent under the display control of the navigation system 23 as a character or image. The navigation system 23 can, as needed, data such as the current location of the vehicle 20 and map information about the vehicle-mountable network 25 to the vehicle-mountable communication device 21 output.

The navigation system 23 has various types of operation switches for providing a user with the following functions: a navigation function, a character input function used to select a destination, a function of moving a cursor so that a user can select from alternatives displayed on the screen of the user display device 23A and an input function such as a touch panel displayed on the screen of the display device 23A is provided, via which an operator of a user is entered.

In this embodiment, the navigation system 23 a posting function for posting post information based on user operation to the management center 10 on. A user uses the input function of the navigation system 23 is provided so as to input posting information to the management center 10 to post is as character information. From location information on the map information of the navigation system 23 becomes location information according to the posting information by the navigation system 23 associated with this post information entered by a user. The navigation system 23 associates location information with post information such that a user first determines a destination on the map information displayed on the display device 23A is displayed, and that the user then inputs post information to the destination, or that the user determines a destination on the map information to be linked to the entered post information at the user's request. In this way, the navigation system linked 23 Location information used for map information of the navigation system 23 is used with posting information. Because location information provided by the navigation system 23 is location information that is as map information of the navigation system 23 are specifications of location information that is in accordance with a user's determination by the navigation system 23 associated with posting information, same specifications of location information, which is for map information of the navigation system 23 is used. Specifications of location information provided by the environment determination device 22 from the navigation system 23 is detected when the environmental determining device 22 Posting post information automatically, and then linking it to the post information, are also equal to specifications of location information necessary for map information of the navigation system 23 is used.

Furthermore, the navigation system points 23 a function on to the administrative center 10 based on a user's operation To ask information. A user can use the administration center 10 for example, after detailed information regarding devices on the map information displayed on the display device 23A displayed by asking the navigation system 23 served. The navigation system 23 can the administrative center 10 for information about the surroundings of the driving location as query conditions of a current driving location of the vehicle 20 ask or the administrative center 10 query for information (posting information) that matches this query condition using a keyword to be added to the query condition. Furthermore, the navigation system 23 to get information about the environment of the location of the vehicle 20 to regain every time the vehicle gets up 20 moves, the current location information of the vehicle 20 Appropriately to the administrative center 10 send. In this case, the navigation system calculates 23 the current location information of the vehicle 20 based on a vehicle speed, a travel distance, or a time and distance interval based on a predetermined time interval and the like with respect to the vehicle 20 is provided and sends the navigation system 23 the calculated current location information suitably to the management center 10 ,

The navigation system 23 The embodiment shows map information on the display device 23A and can be an illustration, speech bubbles (see speech bubbles 231 and 232 in the 2 ) in a superimposing manner at such a location as that of the display device 23A displayed map information indicate that the displayed map information (map image) is covered and hidden. Although the speech bubble temporarily hides the map information behind an image, the speech bubble is displayed on a screen at a location that is indicative of that of the display device 23A displayed map information is not affected. Consequently, after the speech bubble disappears, the map information obscured by the speech bubble is redone by the display device 23A displayed. Location information on the map information of the navigation system 23 is linked to the speech bubble. Consequently, the navigation system shows 23 when location information associated with post information is included in map information currently being displayed by the display device 23A is displayed, the speech bubble at a corresponding location on the map information from the display device 23A is shown. On the other hand, when location information of a speech bubble is not included in map information received from the display device 23A is displayed, the balloon does not appear on the map information displayed by the display device 23A is shown.

A vehicle-mounted speech recognition device 24 may form, as needed, post information having character data by providing voice data of a user via the vehicle-mountable microphone 34 be entered, converted into character data. The navigation system 23 Posting information that has character data may be unchanged for querying a keyword or as an illustration in an overlaying manner on the display device 23A can be displayed. In addition to converting contents of a user's language into character data for input of post information, the vehicle-mounted speech recognition apparatus 24 perform a voice-to-character conversion. That is, if a user uses the navigation system 23 operated by talking to the use of the navigation function, the vehicle-mounted speech recognition device 24 can be used to convert command contents in the form of the user's language into character data to distinguish the command contents.

The vehicle-mountable communication device 21 is a vehicle-mountable wireless communication device that provides wireless communication between the management center 10 and the environmental determining device 22 or the navigation system 23 allows. The vehicle-mountable communication device 21 sends to the administrative center 10 , Post information, location information and information concerning a request for polling conditions and the like sent from the environment determination device 22 or the navigation system 23 in the direction of the administrative center 10 are given. The vehicle-mountable communication device 21 receives various types of information, such as posting information, from the management center 10 to the vehicle 20 is sent and sends the information to the navigation system 23 , Consequently, the navigation system serves 23 as an information acquisition unit, the, of the information management device 10A in the possession of the administrative center 10 , recorded by wireless communication location information and posting information in one state to the management center 10 be posted, in which the location information and the post information are linked.

Below is an information delivery service provided by the Administration Center 10 for the vehicle 20 is provided with reference to the 2 and 3 described.

The one with the public network 40 connected data servers 41 poses as in 2 shown, a service in the form of a "twitter-like microblog" 410 as an interface for receiving and publishing post information posted by a user. The data server 41 stores and holds posting information posted via this service. The twitter-like microblog 410 is provided by known services such as microblog such as Twitter, and blogs to provide microblogs of information from various areas (categories) such as traffic jams, facilities, scenery, weather and restaurants that a user is likely to drive during a trip in a vehicle.

The other data server 42 who is using the public network 40 connected, stores and holds posting information posted by a user as "tweet information" 420 ,

The information management device 10A of the administrative center 10 provides a posting information management and posting information usage service 200 ("Tweet Town Navigation" service) for a user of the vehicle 20 ready. The Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 holds posting information from a user of the vehicle 20 and posting information by the vehicle 20 or the like is voluntarily posted to be linked with location information. Further, the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Use Service transmits 200 in accordance with a transmission request from a user of the vehicle 20 to a vehicle 20 a requestor, posting information that matches a query condition contained in the delivery request. More specifically, to answer a question of the user concerned, the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service assigns 200 a Tell-Me-Town Navigation service for reviewing posting information associated with location information and for responding to the resulting posting information to the vehicle 20 and a recommendation service 230 ("Leave-It-To-Me-Town Navigation" service) for timely provision of information likely to interest a user in accordance with the current location information of the vehicle 20 on. Further, the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 a posting service 220 ("Tweet-Posting" service) for receiving post information from a user of the vehicle 20 is voluntarily posted, and for storing and holding the received post information in conjunction with location information. The posting service 220 stores received post information in the storage device 16 and posts (uploads) the received post information to a microblog of a corresponding area among various twitter-type microblogs (not shown) by the posting service 220 to be provided. Further, by the posting service 220 , stored posting information to the twitter-like microblog 410 a corresponding area and posted the posting information as the tweet information 420 in the data server 42 get saved.

The answer service 210 is suitably used when a user, such as a driver, the administrative center 10 after a matter in his interest or for information that he would like to learn while driving with the vehicle asks. If the answering service 210 implemented, the navigation system sends 23 , from the vehicle 20 as inquiry information to the administrative center 10 , Query conditions with a keyword or location information input by a user operation. When the information providing device 13 Query conditions from the vehicle 20 receives causes the information providing device 13 in that the information retrieval device 17 Queries posting information using the keyword or location information contained in the query conditions. The information retrieval device 17 asks posting information that matches the query conditions from the storage device 16 or the data servers 41 and 42 starting with the public network 40 are connected, and gives the detected post information, which is detected as a result of the query, to the information providing device 13 , The information providing device 13 gives (transmits) the posting information provided by the information retrieval device 17 is input, along with location information to the vehicle 20 , The display device 23A of the navigation system 23 shows the transmitted post information (such as POI (point-of-interest information) as speech bubbles 231 and 232 for example, at locations of the respective location information.

Through the recommendation service 230 supplies the administrative center 10 a user, such as a driver, suitably with posting information corresponding to the surroundings of the current location of the traveling vehicle 20 or a location in advance of the vehicle in the direction of travel. That is, if the user of the vehicle 20 the recommendation service 230 chooses by the navigation system 23 are operated, query conditions including the current location information of the vehicle 20 from the vehicle 20 as inquiry information to the administrative center 10 Posted. The information providing device 13 causes the information retrieval device 17 Posting information using the queries current location information contained in the query conditions that the vehicle 20 Will be received. The information retrieval device 17 asks posting information that matches the query conditions from the storage device 16 and the data servers 41 and 42 and sends the post information, which is detected as a result of the polling, to the information providing device 13 , The information providing device 13 delivers (transmitted) to the vehicle 20 that from the information retrieval device 17 sent posting information along with location information. Although the recommendation service 230 in the navigation system 23 continues to be activated sends the navigation system 23 the current location information each time automatically in accordance with a predetermined character information or distance interval, and transmits the management center 10 repeats posting information included in a query result in accordance with the transmitted current location information to the vehicle 20 , The display device 23A of the navigation system 23 shows the from the administrative center 10 provided posting information at locations corresponding to the location information, for example, as speech bubbles 231 and 232 at.

If the navigation system 23 or the information management device 10A the direction of travel of the vehicle 20 can appreciate, in the referral service 230 Posting information to be interrogated must be limited in advance according to the direction of travel of the vehicle. In such a case, the information management device 10A as it is for the information management device 10A it is only necessary to retrieve posting information that satisfies the query conditions from the bound post information, to quickly query and select the desired posting information.

The posting service 220 receives from the vehicle 20 , Posting information provided by a user of the vehicle 20 using the vehicle-mountable microphone 34 or the like is voluntarily posted posting information by a user using buttons in the navigation system 23 is entered, or posting information provided by the environment determination device 22 of the vehicle 20 is voluntarily and automatically posted, along with location information corresponding to this posting information, and the posting service 220 post the received post information together with the location information to the twitter-like microblog, which is sent by the posting service 220 self-provided. The posting service 220 stores the received post information together with the location information in the storage device 16 , This can be the answer service 210 and the recommendation service 230 also use the post information and the location information. That is, the posting service 220 provides its own microblog service as an interface for receiving post information from the vehicle 20 is posted, ready. According to this configuration, the post information and the location information of the vehicle 20 via the interface of the microblog to the information management device 10A given. The information registration management device 14 links the location information with the posting information and then stores the linked information in the storage device 16 or subsequently post the linked information as well via the network communication device 11 to the twitter-like microblog 410 ,

When the information management device 10A as in the flowchart of 3 shown request information or posting information from the vehicle 20 receives, starts the information management device 10A the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 (Step S1 in the 3 ). When the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Use Service 200 already started, the information management device 10A the use of the already started Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 as he continues. When the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Use Service 200 is started and becomes available, determines the information management device 10A a service to be used (a service mode) from the answering service 210 , the posting service 220 and the recommendation service 230 (Step S2). The service provided by the information management device 10A is to be used by the vehicle 20 along with request information and the like to the information management device 10A sent, by means of a predetermined number, for example, as a result of a choice by a user or the like of the vehicle 20 , The respective service names of the services 210 . 220 and 230 for example, as a menu on the display device 23A of the navigation system 23 and a user selects a mode he wishes to use. When the information management device 10A determines that the (a mode of the) answering service 210 is selected in step S2, the information management device asks 10A Posting information (tweet information) that satisfies a keyword, in the area of a particular location, based on query conditions imposed by the vehicle 20 are sent (step S3), and sends the information management device 10A the posting information as query result to the navigation system 23 as a vehicle-mountable device of the vehicle 20 (Step S4). The query conditions at this time may include a keyword and location information. The answer service 210 allows a user of the vehicle 20 as described above, to determine a keyword and to retrieve corresponding tweet information. A user of the vehicle 20 can check a query result on the map. Subsequently, the information management apparatus stops 10A the provision of the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 , Alternatively, the information management device 10A only the answer service 210 quit while doing the services 220 and 230 who are from the answering service 210 Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 distinguish, maintain.

When the information management device 10A determines that the (a mode of) the recommendation service 230 in step S2 of 3 is selected, the information management device asks 10A Posting information (tweet information) regarding the current location information of the vehicle 20 based on query conditions (current location information) from the vehicle 20 are transmitted (step S5 in the 3 ), and sends the information management device 10A the requested posting information to the navigation system 23 (Step S6 in the 3 ). In this embodiment, the information management device is 10A designed so that the recommendation service 230 remains available until the vehicle 20 instructs the use of the recommendation service 230 to end. Thus, the information management device provides 10A the recommendation service 230 the vehicle 20 Post information and location information in accordance with scenes at constant time intervals or constant distance intervals in advance.

When the information management device 10A determines that the (a mode of the) posting service 220 in step S2 of 3 is selected posts the information management device 10A Posting information coming from the vehicle 20 is transferred, and associated with this posting information location information to a twitter-like microblog by the information management device 10A itself, the information management device stores 10A the information in the storage device 16 and posts the information management device 10A the information to an external twitter - like microblog (step S7 in the 3 ). The provision of the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 will be terminated. Alternatively, only the posting service 220 while providing the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Use Service 200 is maintained.

Hereinafter, an operation of the mobile information terminal, the information management apparatus and the information managing system for mobile information terminals configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS 4 to 6 described.

4 shows a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the answering service 210 ,

A user, such as a driver, first serves as in 4 shown the navigation system 23 to use the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 the information management device 10A to start. Specifically, the user indicates to the navigation system 23 , via voice over the microphone attachable to a vehicle 34 , Query conditions (keyword and location information) for retrieving information that the user wants to know and a service mode of the services 210 . 220 and 230 the user wants to use (step S10). The vehicle-mounted speech recognition device 24 converts the mode and the polling conditions input by voice from the voice data into character data by performing voice recognition processing (step S11). The navigation system 23 extracts a keyword that becomes a mode and query conditions from the generated character data (step S12), and sends the extracted mode and the extracted query conditions as a query request to the information management device 10A (Step S13).

The information management device 10A who has received the query request leads the answering service 210 which satisfies the user-specified mode (step S14), requests post information based on the query conditions (keyword and location information, step S15), and acquires post information as a query result that matches the query conditions, and with the location information associated with the acquired post information (step S16). The information management device 10A transmits (delivers) to the navigation system 23 of the vehicle 20 the detected post information and location information (step S17).

If the navigation system 23 that from the information management device 10A transmitted post information receives (step S18), shows the navigation system 23 the received post information in a superimposed manner on the Map information of the display device 23A in accordance with the linked location information (step S19). In this way, the display device 23A provide the user with a query result as a result of the user's request. Consequently, the navigation system serves 23 as a display control unit that controls the display device 23A such that the detected post information controls in a superimposing manner at a location on the map information of the display device 23A displayed by the information management device 10A recorded location information is displayed.

In the event that the vehicle 20 is in the stopped state, the navigation system 23 then when a user uses the speech bubbles 231 and 232 on the display device 23A touches and chooses the speech bubbles 231 and 232 zoom or change the screens so that the display device 23A more detailed information regarding the speech bubbles 231 and 232 displays. Because the answer service 210 a user of the vehicle 20 Can provide information that the user wishes to experience while driving with the vehicle, the user can be guided to a quick and sensible action, thus aiding comfortable driving. That is, as a user of the vehicle 20 Information can be obtained at a high real-time level, the user can determine a favorable route. When a user uses the speech bubbles 231 and 232 while driving the vehicle 20 touched, the navigation system can 23 Details of information regarding the speech bubbles 231 and 232 read out with a speech generator and inform the user about the details. When a user has a destination setting button owned by the navigation system 23 operated while holding the speech bubbles 231 and 232 on the display device 23A chooses, the navigation system can 23 one in the speech bubbles 231 and 232 displayed location as a travel destination of the vehicle 20 determine (step S20). A use of the answering service 210 is terminated by such operations. If places where the speech bubbles 231 and 232 are displayed from the map information on the screen of the display device 23A emerge, the speech bubbles disappear 231 and 232 from the screen.

5 FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an operation example of the recommendation service. FIG 230 ,

To the navigation system 23 to use the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 to start, gives a user, such as a driver, as in 5 shown a mode of the service that the user wants to use by voice over the vehicle-mountable microphone 34 on (step S30). The navigation system 23 executes speech recognition processing on an input speech to generate character data (step S31), extracts a mode designation and a keyword (step S32), and sends them as a query request to the information management apparatus 10A (Request, step S33). Furthermore, the navigation system sends 23 as well as the current location information of the vehicle 20 to the information management device 10A (Step S34).

When the information management device 10A receives the mode determination and the current location information, guides the information management apparatus 10A the recommendation service 230 in accordance with the mode determination off (step S35), the information management device detects 10A Posting information of the current location information of the vehicle 20 and posting information from an area near the current location information (steps S36 and S37) and transmits the information management device 10A the recorded posting information to the navigation system 23 (Step S38).

If the navigation system 23 that from the information management device 10A transmitted post information receives (step S39), shows the navigation system 23 the received post information as the speech bubbles 231 and 232 in a superimposing manner on the map information of the display device 23A in accordance with the linked location information (step S40). That is, according to this example, the navigation system is used 23 as well as the display control unit. When the user operates the destination key while holding the speech bubbles 231 and 232 on the display device 23A dials, sets the navigation system 23 one on the speech bubbles 231 and 232 indicated location as a destination (step S41).

After the series of processings, the information management device determines 10A whether the use of the recommendation service 230 should be ended (step S42). If the user wishes, the use of the recommendation service 230 to end, the user gives a command to stop the automatic recommendation by voice in the vehicle mountable microphone 34 or the user operates one on the navigation system 23 provided key to stop the automatic recommendation. If no instructions for stopping the automatic recommendation are given by the user (NO in step S42), the navigation system returns 23 to step S34 to get new current location information of the vehicle 20 to send after a certain time has elapsed or the vehicle has traveled a certain driving distance, and guides the navigation system 23 re-execute the processing steps following step S34. This provides the information management device 10A the navigation system 23 repeated with posting information from a driving environment of the vehicle 20 ,

Consequently, once a user makes use of the recommendation service 230 has started, the user no longer required to subsequently perform an operation for obtaining post information, and becomes the recommendation service 230 entrusted to the user during driving of the vehicle via the display device 23A or automatically and sequentially provide the speaker with interesting information. That is, the recommendation service 230 can the user of the vehicle from the information management device 10A automatically submit tweet information that the user of the vehicle is likely to be interested in. This enhances the recommendation service 230 the interest of a user in a place owned by the user of the vehicle 20 was originally perceived only as a passing point, and the recommendation service thus causes the user to see a new purpose in driving. That is, the user of the vehicle 20 can notice a new destination that he has not yet noticed, and can arouse his curiosity in a new area. Consequently, the user brings the vehicle 20 Current events in the environments of the current location in experience and the user can gather experience only in this place, without missing the opportunity.

In contrast, the navigation system stops 23 then, when the user performs an operation to terminate the recommendation service (YES in step S42), transmitting the current location information of the vehicle 20 to the information management device 10A so the referral service 230 to end.

6 FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating an example of operation of the posting service. FIG 220 ,

To the navigation system 23 to service the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Use Service 200 to start, gives a user, such as a driver, as in 6 shown a mode determination and an area (a category) of content that the user wishes to post by voice or touch to the navigation system 23 (Step S50). When post information is input by voice (step S51), the navigation system receives 23 Character data about the voice recognition processing by the vehicle-mounted voice recognition device 24 and recognizes the navigation system 23 the character information (step S52). The navigation system 23 causes the display device 23A indicates the recognized character information to the user so that the user can confirm whether the contents are correct (step S53), and asks the user regarding his post intention whether to post the contents of this character information to the twitter-like microblog (step S54) , The user gives his intention (posting intent) of whether to send this character information by a command, such as a key operation or a voice input, to the navigation system 23 , When the user commands to post the character information (YES in step S54), the navigation system links 23 Location information with this posting information and sends the character information associated with the location information as posting information to the information management device 10A (Step S55).

The information management device 10A performs the posting service 220 according to the mode determination of the vehicle 20 and stores (registers) the received post information and location information in the storage device 16 , through a twitter-like microblog, from the information management device 10A itself, or post the received post information and location information to an external twitter-type microblog (step S56).

In this way, the user posts the vehicle 20 by an operator that does not burden him while driving the vehicle, in a simple and regular way information, such as his opinion based on his current experiences (life experiences), and word of mouth information that is real and that everyone wants to know a twitter-like microblog. That is, the user of the vehicle 20 can send information immediately whenever he wishes. A twitter-like microblog can quickly and easily provide users of other vehicles with such detailed information. That is, as the user of the vehicle 20 Thinking that a post of new information will help someone will increase the incentive to post and improve the quality and quantity of posting information. At the posting service 220 For example, if a classification tag is added to the post information, the post information can be more easily used. A user of the vehicle 20 Posting information that is posted by this user can be used as POI information in the navigation system 23 and also use as POI information of a timetable by means of a telematics service.

Subsequently, the provision of the posting service 220 completed. In contrast, the navigation system posts 23 then, when the user determines that no character information is to be posted (NO in step S54), the character information is not sent to the information management device 10A , and ends the navigation system 23 then the processing.

• (1) Ortsinformation wird mit Posting-Information verknüpft, die von der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A an das Navigationssystem 23 übermittelt wird. Folglich kann die Anzeigevorrichtung 23A des Navigationssystems 23 Posting-Information, die von der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A übermittelt wird, auf der Grundlage der Ortsinformation auf der Karteninformation anzeigen. Dementsprechend kann das Navigationssystem 23, da Ortsinformation mit Posting-Information verknüpft wird, die Posting-Information flexibel an irgendeinem Ort auf der Karteninformation anzeigen, ohne durch Einrichtungen und dergleichen auf der Karte beschränkt zu werden. Die Beschränkungen bezüglich der mit der Posting-Information verknüpften Ortsinformation werden verringert. Folglich wird ein freiwilliges und automatisches Posten von Posting-Information durch den Benutzer und das Fahrzeug 20 erleichtert, so dass ebenso die Verbraucherfreundlichkeit des Posting-Information verwendenden Navigationssystems 23 verbessert wird. Insbesondere kann die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A dann, wenn die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Ortsinformation, die vom Fahrzeug 20 gepostet wird, zurück an das Fahrzeug 20 übermittelt, von Beginn an die Ortsinformation abwickeln bzw. handhaben, die tief mit Ortsinformation verknüpft ist, die als ein Ort auf der Karteninformation des Navigationssystems 23 gezeigt wird. Folglich kann das Navigationssystem 23 der Posting-Information auf einfache Weise eine Anzeige der Karteninformation steuern.
• (2) Die Anzeigevorrichtung 23A zeigt, in einer überlagernden Weise, Posting-Information als Sprechblasen 231 und 232 auf der Karteninformation des Navigationssystems 23 an. Folglich stellt die Anzeigevorrichtung 23A auch dann, wenn Posting-Information unregelmäßig an das Navigationssystem 23 gegeben wird, einem Benutzer zuverlässig auf einem hohen Echtzeitniveau Information bereit, dass Posting-Information entsprechend Karteninformation, die angezeigt wird, existiert. Gemäß dieser Konfiguration kann das Navigationssystem 23 auch dann, wenn Posting-Information vor geraumer Zeit in der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A gesammelt worden ist oder wenn Posting-Information in der letzten Minute in der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A gesammelt worden ist, solche Posting-Information, die auf der Karteninformation angezeigt wird, auf einfache Weise erneuern. Derartige neue Information ist für einen Benutzer von Nutzen, der die neue Information verwendet, um eine aktuelle Verkehrssituation und laufende Ereignisse in und um diesen Bereich herum zu ermitteln. Ein Benutzer des Fahrzeugs 20 kann beispielsweise einen aktuellen Zustand, wie beispielsweise ein Pinpoint-Wetter eines Zielortes, und eine Ursache für einen aktuellen Verkehrsstau oder Lösungsmöglichkeiten für einen Verkehrsstau in Erfahrung bringen. Ferner kann verhindert werden, dass sich die Neuheit von Daten im Verwaltungszentrum 10 verschlechtert.
• (3) Ferner wählt die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A, im Ansprechen auf eine Übermittlungsanfrage vom Navigationssystem 23 Posting-Information und Ortsinformation, die an das Navigationssystem 23 zu übermitteln sind. Folglich kann die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Posting-Information, die vom Navigationssystem 23 benötigt wird, in geeigneter Weise bereitstellen. Auf eine Informationsanfrage vom Fahrzeug 20 auf der Grundlage der aktuellen Ortsinformation übermittelt die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A beispielsweise Information über die Umgebung des aktuellen Ortes des Fahrzeugs 20. Ferner kann die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A dann, wenn Inhalte der Informationsanfrage vom Fahrzeug 20 durch ein Keyword bestimmt werden, Information, die mit den bestimmten Inhalten übereinstimmt, zusätzlich zur aktuellen Ortsinformation übermitteln.
• (4) Obgleich die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Posting-Information verwaltet, die vom Fahrzeug 20 oder dergleichen gepostet wird, ist die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A nicht die Quelle (der Postende), von der aus die Posting-Information postet wird. Folglich ist das Wartungsmanagement bezüglich der Posting-Information einfach.
• (5) Das Navigationssystem 23 kann mehr Posting-Information verwenden. Dementsprechend wird ebenso die Verbraucherfreundlichkeit des mobilen Informationsendgeräts, das Posting-Information verwendet, verbessert.
• (6) Das Navigationssystem 23 kann die Posting-Information durch eine Benutzerbedienung bezüglich des Navigationssystems 23 posten. Folglich kann die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Posting-Information, die mit Ortsinformation verknüpft ist, ebenso vom Navigationssystem 23 empfangen. Hierdurch kann die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Posting-Information vom Navigationssystem 23 zusammen mit Ortsinformation verwalten. Ein Benutzer des Fahrzeugs 20 postet Posting-Information, die Ortsinformation aufweist, auf einfache Weise an die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A. Ein Benutzer des Fahrzeugs 20 kann nicht nur einfache Information, die automatisch gesendet wird, wie beispielsweise „das Fahrzeug 20 befindet sich in einem Verkehrsstau” oder „es beginnt zu regnen”, sondern ebenso detaillierte Information und bestimmte Information, die den Grad eines Verkehrsstaus oder die Quantität von Regen, vom gleichen Benutzerkonto aus wie das Fahrzeug 20 senden.
• (7) Die Umgebungsbestimmungsvorrichtung 22 des Fahrzeugs 20 kann Posting-Information auf der Grundlage eines Ereignisses, das bezüglich des Fahrzeugs 20 aufgetreten ist, automatisch senden. Folglich kann die Posting-Information vom Fahrzeug 20 aus automatisch gepostet werden. Hierdurch können die Qualität und die Quantität von Posting-Information, die von der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A oder dergleichen gehalten wird, verbessert werden und kann ebenso die Verbraucherfreundlichkeit des Navigationssystems 23, das Posting-Information nutzt, verbessert werden.
• (8) Die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A kann Posting-Information, die in den Datenservern 41 und 42 gesammelt wird., die über ein öffentliches Netzwerk 40, wie beispielsweise das Internet, mit der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A verbunden sind, an das Navigationssystem 23 übermitteln. Da Posting-Information, die von der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A an das Navigationssystem 23 gegeben wird, auf einem oder mehreren Teilen von Posting-Information basiert, die im Besitz der mit dem öffentlichen Netzwerk 40 verbundenen Datenserver 41 und 42 sind, kann die Anzahl von Teilen von Posting-Information, die von der Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A an das Navigationssystem 23 gegeben werden kann, automatisch erhöht werden. Folglich kann die Verbraucherfreundlichkeit des Navigationssystems 23, das diese Posting-Information verwendet, weiter verbessert werden.
• (9) Unter der Posting-Information, die in den Datenservern 41 und 42 und dergleichen gesammelt wird, ist Posting-Information, mit der Ortsinformation, die mit Karteninformation des Navigationssystems 23 übereinstimmt, nicht verknüpft ist. Die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A kann jedoch Ortsinformation, die mit Karteninformation des Navigationssystems 23 übereinstimmt, ebenso mit solcher Posting-Information verknüpfen. Auch wenn Ortsinformation, die von einer Übermittlungsanfrage (Abfragebedingungen) genutzt wird, die vom Navigationssystem 23 an die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A gesendet wird, nicht so wie sie ist verwendet werden kann, um Posting-Information abzufragen, die in den Datenservern 41 und 42 gesammelt wird, kann die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Spezifikationen von solcher Ortsinformation in Spezifikationen von Ortsinformation gleich den Datenservern 41 und 42 wandeln, und so die gewandelten Spezifikationen zur Abfrage verwenden.
• (10) Das Navigationssystem 23, das in einem Fahrzeug 20 befestigt ist, das eine hohe Geschwindigkeit aufweist und Information effektiv sammeln muss, kann Posting-Information auf der Karteninformation anzeigen. Folglich kann einem Benutzer, wie beispielsweise einem Fahrer des Fahrzeugs 20, neue Information bereitgestellt werden. Insbesondere kann dann, wenn eine Fahrgeschwindigkeit als ein Ereignis (Parameter) verwendet wird, das im Fahrzeug 20 aufgetreten ist, um zu bewirken, dass die Umgebungsbestimmungsvorrichtung 22 des Fahrzeugs 20 automatisch Information postet, auf einfache Weise bestimmt werden, ob ein Verkehrsstau auf den Straßen in der Nähe vorhanden ist, zu denen Information in Echtzeit gepostet wird. Ferner kann Information, die für einen Fahrbetrieb des Fahrzeugs 20 und dergleichen effektiv ist, bereitgestellt werden.
• (11) Die an einem Fahrzeug befestigbare Spracherkennungsvorrichtung 24 ermöglicht es einem Benutzer während eines Fahrens des Fahrzeugs 20, der nicht einfach Information unter Verwendung von Zeichen eingeben kann, Posting-Information an das Navigationssystem 23 zu geben. Hierdurch wird ein vom Benutzer ausgeführtes Posten von Posting-Information auf einem hohen Echtzeitniveau vereinfacht und werden die Quantität und die Qualität der Posting-Information, die eine Basis für die Abfrage bilden, verbessert. Folglich kann die Verbraucherfreundlichkeit des Navigationssystems 23, das die Posting-Information verwendet, weiter verbessert werden.

As described above, the mobile information terminal, the information management apparatus, and the information managing system for mobile information terminals of this embodiment provide the following advantages.

• (1) Location information is associated with posting information provided by the information management device 10A to the navigation system 23 is transmitted. Consequently, the display device 23A of the navigation system 23 Posting information provided by the information management device 10A is displayed on the map information based on the location information. Accordingly, the navigation system 23 since location information is associated with post information that flexibly displays post information anywhere on the map information without being limited by facilities and the like on the map. The restrictions on the location information associated with the post information are reduced. Consequently, a voluntary and automatic posting of posting information by the user and the vehicle 20 facilitates, so that as well the consumer-friendliness of the posting information using navigation system 23 is improved. In particular, the information management device 10A then, if the information management device 10A Location information provided by the vehicle 20 is posted back to the vehicle 20 from the beginning, handle the location information deeply associated with location information serving as a location on the map information of the navigation system 23 will be shown. Consequently, the navigation system 23 the Posting information easily control a display of the map information.
• (2) The display device 23A shows, in an overlying manner, posting information as speech bubbles 231 and 232 on the map information of the navigation system 23 at. Consequently, the display device 23A even if posting information is irregular to the navigation system 23 is provided to a user reliably on a high real-time level information that post information exists according to map information that is displayed. According to this configuration, the navigation system 23 even if posting information some time ago in the information management device 10A has been collected or if posting information at the last minute in the information management device 10A has been collected, such posting information that is displayed on the map information to renew easily. Such new information is useful to a user who uses the new information to determine an up-to-date traffic situation and current events in and around that area. A user of the vehicle 20 For example, it may know a current condition, such as a pinpoint weather of a destination, and a cause of a current traffic congestion or traffic jam solutions. Furthermore, the novelty of data in the management center can be prevented 10 deteriorated.
• (3) Further, the information management device selects 10A in response to a transmission request from the navigation system 23 Posting information and location information sent to the navigation system 23 to be transmitted. Consequently, the information management device 10A Posting information provided by the navigation system 23 is needed to deploy in an appropriate manner. On an information request from the vehicle 20 on the basis of the current location information, the information management device transmits 10A For example, information about the environment of the current location of the vehicle 20 , Furthermore, the information management device 10A then, if contents of the information request from the vehicle 20 determined by a keyword, conveying information that matches the particular content in addition to the current location information.
• (4) Although the information management device 10A Posting information managed by the vehicle 20 or the like is the information management device 10A not the source (the end of the post) from which the posting information is posted. Consequently, the maintenance management with regard to the post information is easy.
• (5) The navigation system 23 can use more posting information. Accordingly, the convenience of the mobile information terminal using posting information is also improved.
• (6) The navigation system 23 can the posting information by a user operation regarding the navigation system 23 Post. Consequently, the information management device 10A Posting information associated with location information, as well as from the navigation system 23 receive. This allows the information management device 10A Posting information from the navigation system 23 manage along with location information. A user of the vehicle 20 Post posting information having location information in a simple manner to the information management device 10A , A user of the vehicle 20 Not only can simple information be sent automatically, such as "the vehicle 20 is in a traffic jam "or" it starts to rain "but also detailed information and specific information indicating the degree of congestion or the amount of rain, from the same user account as the vehicle 20 send.
• (7) The environmental determining device 22 of the vehicle 20 can post information based on an event related to the vehicle 20 has occurred, send automatically. Consequently, the posting information from the vehicle 20 be posted out automatically. This allows the quality and quantity of posting information provided by the information management device 10A or the like, can be improved and also the convenience of the navigation system 23 that uses post information to be improved.
• (8) The information management device 10A can post information in the data servers 41 and 42 is collected., which has a public network 40 , such as the Internet, with the information management device 10A connected to the navigation system 23 to transfer. Since posting information provided by the information management device 10A to the navigation system 23 is given based on one or more pieces of post information that is owned by the public network 40 connected data server 41 and 42 may be the number of pieces of posting information provided by the information management device 10A to the navigation system 23 can be given automatically increased. Consequently, the convenience of the navigation system 23 that uses this posting information will be further improved.
• (9) Under the posting information provided in the data servers 41 and 42 and the like, is post information with the location information corresponding to map information of the navigation system 23 matches, is not linked. The information management device 10A However, location information provided with map information of the navigation system 23 matches, as well as link with such posting information. Even if location information that is used by a transmission request (query conditions) by the navigation system 23 to the information management device 10A is sent, not as it can be used to query posting information contained in the data servers 41 and 42 is collected, the information management device 10A Specifications of such location information in specifications of location information similar to the data servers 41 and 42 and use the converted specifications for the query.
• (10) The navigation system 23 that in a vehicle 20 fixed, which has a high speed and must collect information effectively, can display posting information on the map information. Consequently, a user, such as a driver of the vehicle, may 20 , new information will be provided. In particular, when a vehicle speed is used as an event (parameter), that in the vehicle 20 occurred to cause the environmental determining device 22 of the vehicle 20 automatically post information to easily determine if there is a traffic congestion on the nearby streets to which information is being posted in real time. Furthermore, information necessary for a driving operation of the vehicle 20 and the like is effective.
• (11) The vehicle-mounted voice recognition device 24 allows a user while driving the vehicle 20 who can not easily enter information using characters, posting information to the navigation system 23 to give. This simplifies a post-information posting performed by the user at a high real-time level and improves the quantity and quality of the post information forming a basis for the query. Consequently, the convenience of the navigation system 23 that uses the posting information to be further improved.

A user of the navigation system 23 is on a user of the vehicle 20 limited. Consequently, the vehicle-mounted speech recognition apparatus 24 when the vehicle-mounted speech recognition device 24 is designed such that the speech characteristics of an individual user are determined in advance, perform an accurate voice-to-character conversion.

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, an information management system for mobile information terminals according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS 7 to 10 described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that post information is not only from the navigation system 23 but also by a user 50 and a shop 60 , Because the others Configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, mainly the different points will be described below, wherein the same configurations are provided with the same symbols / reference numerals and will not be repeatedly described.

An information management system for mobile information terminal of this embodiment has, as in 7 shown, as well as mobile phones 51 and 61 and PCs (Personal Computer) 52 and 62 as another mobile information terminal with permissions to access the management center 10 on. More precisely, the user 50 the mobile information terminal has the mobile phone 51 and the pc 52 designed to provide wireless or wired data communication with respect to the management center 10 as a means for posting post information to the management center 10 , The shop 60 also has the mobile phone 61 and the pc 62 designed to provide wireless or wired data communication with respect to the management center 10 as a means for posting post information to the management center 10 , This will, as in 8th shown, posting information to the posting service 220 a Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 posted by a vehicle-mountable microphone 34 of a vehicle 20 the mobile phone 51 and the PC 52 of the user 50 and from the mobile phone 61 and the PC 62 of the shop 60 , The mobile phones 51 and 61 and the PCs 52 and 62 are designed to add location information of predetermined specifications to posting information provided by the mobile phones 51 and 61 and the PCs 52 and 62 is posted. The information management device 10A converts the location information of predetermined specifications added to the post information into location information of the specifications provided by the information management device 10A be used, by means of a location information conversion function of an information retrieval device 17 ,

The Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 The embodiment has a weighting list 70 for defining a degree of importance based on a combination of posting information provided by an environment determination device 22 of the vehicle 20 automatically posted (automatically sent), and posting information provided by the user of the navigation system 23 is posted on. The weighting list 70 will, as in 9 shown from the storage device 16 the information management device 10A or the like, and used when an information providing device 13 as a weighting device, posting information to the vehicle 20 in order to determine a degree of importance of the posting information and to carry out a transmission in accordance with the degree of importance. The information providing device 13 for example, weights posting information that matches a delivery request with respect to the weighting list 70 , and the information providing device 13 transmits posting information in a descending order of weighting, ie importance, to the vehicle 20 ,

For example, it is assumed that there are two pieces of posting information that have adjacent locations that are indicated by a location information ratio (such as less than or equal to 20 meters). If the two pieces of posting information have no posting information coming from the vehicle 20 is sent automatically, or no posting information provided by the user 50 of the vehicle 20 is posted, the importance degree (priority level) of these two pieces of post information is set to "1", which corresponds to the lowest degree of importance. In such a case, it is considered that the accuracy (objectivity, reliability) is low because the degree of importance "1" describes a case where, for example, two pieces of post information are only from the shop 60 available. When two pieces of post information having adjacent locations indicated by location information have posting information received from the vehicle 20 is sent automatically, but has no post information provided by the user 50 of the vehicle 20 is posted, the degree of importance of the two pieces of posting information set to "2", which corresponds to the second lowest level of importance. The degree of importance "2" describes, for example, a case in which the environment determining device 22 of the vehicle 20 Posting information with incorrect content or posting information with content intended for the user 50 not relevant, posts. That is, even if the environmental determining device 22 of the vehicle 20 automatically incorrect information or information for the user 50 is irrelevant, without additional information (posting information of the same content) by the user 50 post, the information management device can 10A determine that the automatic post from the vehicle 20 not serious.

Further, when two pieces of post information having adjacent locations indicated by location information do not have post information from the vehicle 20 is sent automatically, but has posting information provided by the user 50 of the vehicle 20 is posted, the degree of importance of the two Parts of posting information set to "3", which is the second highest degree of importance. The significance degree "3" indicates, for example, a case where a user 50 who heard rumors about a place, although the vehicle 20 This place has not yet happened, the rumors posting, or a case where information has content that does not automatically come from the vehicle at that location 20 be sent, but by the user 50 be noticed. When two pieces of post information having adjacent locations indicated by location information have posting information received from the vehicle 20 is sent automatically, and further have posting information provided by the user 50 this vehicle 20 is posted, the importance of the two parts of posting information is set to "4", which corresponds to the highest degree of importance. The degree of importance "4" indicates, for example, a case where the vehicle 20 this place has actually just happened and posting information in this place automatically sends and the user 50 collects the same information in this location and posts the information.

Accordingly, the information management device transmits 10A even if the number of pieces of post information to be transmitted is large, the post information in the order of importance degree "4", "3", "2" and "1" to the vehicle 20 , up to the maximum number of pieces of posting information, which is determined in consideration of the number of speech bubbles that the display device 23A can actually show.

When the information management device 10A Posting information weighted, the information management device 10A consider whether user accounts match each other, between posting information provided by the environment determination device 22 is sent automatically, and posting information by the user 50 from the navigation system 23 , from the mobile phone 51 and from the PC 52 based on a combination of these is posted. For example, if a user account of posting information provided by the environment determination device 22 is automatically sent to a user account that matches the posting information provided by the navigation system 23 , from the mobile phone 51 or from the PC 52 will be considered that there is a link between both high level posts. Consequently, the importance of both of the postings is set high. If user accounts from both postings do not match, it is considered that there is a link between both low level postings. Consequently, the importance of both postings can be set low. The information providing device 13 All posting information that is considered important can be sent to the navigation system 23 transmit, and the navigation system 23 can post information as balloons 231 and 232 is to be displayed in accordance with the degree of importance.

Hereinafter, an operation of the information managing system for mobile information terminals configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS 10 described.

The shop 60 for example, posts (sends) as in 10 shown the information "traffic jam on the right-turn lane near the XX intersection due to a newly opened shop" as posting information P1 to the administrative center 10 , together with predetermined location information. From such post information from the shop 60 can the information management device 10A certain information that can not be covered by existing VICS, ie detailed information about which lane (right turn lane) which location area (near the XX intersection) has traffic congestion. Posting information P2 "The toilets of the SA (sanitary facilities) are occupied", Posting information P3 "My vehicle drives only YY km / h", and Posting information P4 "I am in a traffic jam" are also used by users 50 , such as drivers, together with appropriate location information to the administrative center 10 Posted. Further, the post information P3 "My vehicle drives only YY km / h" and the post information P4 "I am in a traffic jam" from the environment determination devices 22 of the vehicles 20 automatically with the appropriate location information to the administrative center 10 posted (sent) when it detects that the vehicles 20 can not drive for a certain time. In this example, the user accounts of the post information P2 and P3 are the user 50 the same user accounts as those of the post information P2 and P3 taken from the vehicle 20 that from the same user 50 used is posted automatically.

Contents of posting information provided by the environment determination device 22 of the vehicle 20 It does not have to be completely the same (one-to-one) content of posting information provided by the user 50 is voluntarily posted. For example, posting information (abstract term, broad term) "It starts raining" may automatically be provided by the environment determination device 22 of the vehicle 20 be posted and posting information of a particular condition (specific example, narrower term) of rain, such as "thunderstorm" or "heavy rain" from the user 50 be posted. In this case, the Information management device 10A determine that these postings are related, ie that they are the same content, by extracting a keyword or the like and analyzing the contents of both postings.

When the information providing device 13 the information management device 10A the above-described posting information to the vehicle 20 transmits, inserts the information providing device 13 a degree of importance "1" for posting information P1 from the shop 60 an importance grade "3" to the post information P2 only by the user 50 and an importance level "4" to the posting information P3 and P4 from the user 50 or by the environmental determination device 22 added. The information providing device 13 the information management device 10A preferably selects information with a high degree of importance from the posting information of submission candidates, in accordance with a restriction of a number of speech bubbles received from the display device 23A can be displayed. That is, the posting information is based on the degree of importance to other vehicles 20A the answering service 210 or the recommendation service 230 use. For example, two parts of posting information P3 and P4 with the degree of importance "4" are preferably transmitted to the other vehicle 20A and the display device 23A transmitted to the speech bubble 233 display, and then when the display device 23A can receive another transmission, ie further the speech bubble 234 is transmitted, the posting information P2 with the meaning "3", and is then when the display device 23A can receive a further transmission, ie when the display device 23A also a speech bubble 235 display the posting information P1 with the importance level "1". Accordingly, show the vehicle 20 to which the posting information is transmitted and the display device 23A of the navigation system 23 another vehicle 20A this posting information in a superimposed way equal to the speech bubbles 233 . 234 and 235 at.

• (12) Die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A gewichtet, auf der Grundlage einer Kombination, Information, die von der Umgebungsbestimmungsvorrichtung 22 (Kommunikationseinrichtung) automatisch gesendet wird, und Posting-Information, die durch das Navigationssystem 23, die Mobiltelefone 51 und 61 oder die PCs 52 und 62 gepostet wird, aus Posting-Information, die gepostet wird. Folglich kann die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Posting-Information, die gepostet wird, eine Priorität verleihen. Demgemäß verleiht die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A Posting-Information, der nur schwer eine Priorität verliehen werden kann, da sie für gewöhnlich keine Regularität aufweist, eine Priorität, und übermittelt die Informationsverwaltungsvorrichtung 10A die Posting-Information auf der Grundlage der Priorität an das Fahrzeug 20 oder das andere Fahrzeug 20A. Folglich kann die Verbraucherfreundlichkeit des Navigationssystems 23, das diese Posting-Information verwendet, weiter verbessert werden.

That in the 7 As shown above, the information managing system for mobile information terminals according to this embodiment shown above brings advantages similar or similar to the above-described advantages (1) to (11) of the first embodiment, and further the following advantage.

• (12) The information management device 10A weighted, based on a combination, information provided by the environmental determining device 22 (Communication device) is sent automatically, and posting information by the navigation system 23 , the mobile phones 51 and 61 or the PCs 52 and 62 Posting information posted is posted. Consequently, the information management device 10A Posting a posting information that is posted a priority. Accordingly, the information management device confers 10A Posting information, which is difficult to prioritize because it does not usually have regularity, a priority, and transmits the information management device 10A the posting information based on the priority to the vehicle 20 or the other vehicle 20A , Consequently, the convenience of the navigation system 23 that uses this posting information will be further improved.

Furthermore, the information management device 10A then, when the priority of low-accuracy information is set to "low" and the priority of high-accuracy information is set to "high," the accuracy of posting information provided by the navigation system 23 is provided.

(Further embodiments)

The above-described embodiments may be modified as follows.

In the first embodiment, it is shown that a vehicle 20 wireless with the administrative center 10 connected is. However, preferably several vehicles may be wirelessly connected to the management center. When multiple vehicles are connected, the number of pieces of post information to be handled by the management center is increased. Consequently, it is expected that the quantity and quality of post information to be handled by the post office information management and posting information use service will be improved. Accordingly, the information management device can provide vehicles with more recent information, and the quality of the information to be transmitted to the vehicles can be improved.

In each of the above embodiments, it is shown that the vehicle 20 the three services, ie the answer service 210 , the recommendation service 230 and the posting service 220 the information management device 10A However, the invention is not limited thereto, but it is only necessary that the vehicle at least one of the services answering service 210 , Recommendation service 230 and posting service 220 used. Accordingly, the flexibility of one way of using the posting information management and posting information use service on the side of the vehicle is improved and has only one Configuration required by the service used by a user.

In each of the embodiments described above, it is shown that the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 all of the three services, ie the answering service 210 , the recommendation service 230 and the posting service 220 , having. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and it is only necessary that the post information management and posting information use service has one or more of the answering service, recommendation service and posting service. For example, even if the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service has only the answering service and the recommendation service, it is easy to cooperate with another administrative center or to use a public network that provides these services. Although the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service has only the Posting Service, the Posting Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service cooperates with another management center, and can be provided with post information to a vehicle as a Responder or Referral Service. Accordingly, the flexibility of configurations of the mobile information terminal, the information management apparatus and the information managing system for mobile information terminals of the invention can be improved.

In each of the embodiments described above, it is shown that posting information provided by the information management device 10A However, the invention is not limited to this, but may be the information management device 10A Posting information with voice data received. For example, a user starts as in 11 shown the use of the posting service 220 , selects a category by the navigation system 23 is to post (step S70), inputs posting information by voice (step S71), and then plays the input speech (step S72). When the entered language is played, the navigation system determines 23 whether to post the posting information (step S73). The decision on whether to post the posting information is made based on an input operation of a user's posting intention on a dialer screen displayed on the display device 23A or on the basis of a result of an announcement of a posting intention by further speaking. If the navigation system 23 determines that the post information should not be posted (NO in step S73), the post information is not posted and the post processing in the navigation system 23 completed. On the other hand, when it is determined that the post information should be posted (YES in step S73), the navigation system posts 23 Posting information including voice data to the information management device 10A of the administrative center 10 (Step S74). The information management device 10A performs the voice-to-character conversion of post information with voice data by the voice recognition processing using the center voice recognition device 15 and generates posting information with the character data (step S75). Subsequently, the information management device registers 10A the posting information with the character data by the information registration management device 14 so as to provide the posting information together with location information in the storage device 16 to store (step S76). The processing of the posting service 220 issued by the information management device 10A and the usage processing of the Postal Information Management and Posting Information Utilization Service 200 in the navigation system 23 are finished.

According to this configuration, in the information management device 10A That is, even when post information having voice data is posted by a user who can not easily input information by characters while driving a vehicle, this post information is managed as post information with character data. Accordingly, an item of posting information becomes a high real-time level from a user of the vehicle 20 The quantity and quality of post information provided by the information management device is facilitated and improved 10A to handle, improved. Consequently, the convenience of the navigation system 23 , which uses this posting information, further improved.

Furthermore, the information management device performs 10A the voice-to-character conversion processing with a relatively high computational load. Consequently, a computing load of the navigation system 23 can be reduced and the information management device 10A Although the voice-to-character conversion processing has the high computational load, it performs accurate voice-to-character conversion processing.

In each of the embodiments described above, it is shown that information is based on the language of the user of the vehicle 20 who speaks as posting information to the information management device 10A is posted when the user some sort of operation in the navigation system 23 enters. Ie., the user enters into the navigation system 23 a, that the input information on the display device 23A confirmed, or gives a final posting intention in the navigation system 23 one. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the navigation system 23 can automatically post the posting information based on just the conversation in the vehicle. For example, when a vehicle begins to move to another location without stopping or parking after a destination has been reached, the navigation system may 23 predefined keywords or keywords, such as "business is crowded", "business is closed" and "parking is full", can extract from the conversation in the vehicle and can the navigation system 23 the extracted keywords automatically to the information management device 10A post as posting information regarding location information of the destination. Accordingly, since the number of postings of post information to the information management device becomes 10A increases, expects the quantity and quality of information to be improved. As a result, the usage values of the mobile information terminal, the information management apparatus, and the information managing system for mobile information terminals are improved. That is, information of current shops and traffic jams is easily provided to nearby vehicles.

In the second embodiment, it is shown that the information management device 10A the weighting list 70 used to determine a delivery order of posting information. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the information management apparatus 10A may detect a fault condition or a fault of the vehicle based on information having a high significance with respect to the weight list. For example, as in 12 shown an ignition switch 36 that is configured to output error condition information about the vehicle-mountable network 35 with the environmental determining device 22 and the navigation system 23 of the vehicle 20 connected. For example, it is assumed that the environmental determining device 22 Automatically as posting information posts that a fault in the ignition switch 36 has occurred (message P8 from the vehicle). Further, it is assumed that the user 50 voluntarily posts as posting information that he feels a strangeness when the engine starts (message P9 from the user). In this case, the information registration management device confirms 14 the information management device 10A if it receives the message P8 from the vehicle and the message P9 from the user that the user accounts of both messages are the same, time zones in which the messages have been posted are close to each other, and location information where the messages have been posted, are close to each other, and consider the information registration management device 14 the information management device 10A the message P8 from the vehicle and the message P9 then as belonging together (in connection with each other) and links the information registration management device 14 the information management device 10A both together. That is, the respective degree of importance of both messages P8 and P9 is set to "4". With this link, the accuracy of the information of the message P8 from the vehicle is kept at a high level and can be the information management device 10A accurately estimate that a fault condition, according to which the vehicle 20 "The internal combustion engine can not start", has occurred. This allows the information management device 10A the fault condition and the fault of the vehicle 20 analyze accurately and the user or a car dealer can be reported an accurate analysis result to quickly resolve or handle the error condition and the like of the vehicle.

In each of the embodiments described above, it is shown that the management center 10 via the network communication device 11 with the public network 40 However, the invention is not limited to this, but a configuration may be adopted in which the management center can not be connected to the public network. According to this configuration, it is also possible to use the posting information management and posting information usage service 200 based on posting information stored in the storage device of the management center.

Although it is shown in each of the embodiments described above that the information management device 10A the center voice recognition device 15 The invention is not limited thereto, but the information management device may not have voice recognition processing. Also in this case, the information management apparatus can handle post information posted as character data, and the post information of voice data is converted into character data by the navigation system or the like and the converted post information is subsequently given to the information management apparatus. Consequently, the resulting posting information can be handled easily. Accordingly, a service can be provided by applying such a conversion type to the mobile information terminal, the information managing device, and the information managing system for mobile information terminals of the invention.

Although in each of the embodiments described above, it is shown that the navigation system 23 the vehicle-mounted speech recognition device 24 The invention is not limited thereto, but the navigation system can not have voice recognition processing. Also in this case, a user can post the post information and easily input a transmission request of post information by a touch operation on the navigation system. Accordingly, a service can be provided by applying such a manner of input to the mobile information terminal, the information management apparatus and the information managing system for mobile information terminals of the invention.

In each of the embodiments described above, it is shown that the mobile information terminal is the navigation system 23 is. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and the mobile information terminal may be embodied by various types of vehicle-mountable vehicle control devices and vehicle-mountable devices that control a sound system or the like. Accordingly, the mobile information terminal, the information management apparatus, and the information managing system for mobile information terminals of the invention can be widely applied to vehicle-mountable devices.

The mobile information terminal of the invention is not limited to a vehicle-mountable information processing apparatus such as the navigation system, but may be, for example, a terminal that can be carried by a person, such as a mobile phone and a portable navigation system, or a terminal which is attached to an object that can be moved freely.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

administrative center

10A

Information management device

11

Network communication device

12

Vehicle communication device

13

Information providing device

14

Registration information management device

15

Center voice recognition device

16

storage device

17

Information retrieval apparatus

20

vehicle

20A

another vehicle

21

vehicle-mountable communication device

22

Environment-determination device

23

navigation system

23A

display device

24

vehicle-mounted speech recognition device

25

network attachable to a vehicle

30

windshield wipers

31

Camera attachable to a vehicle

32

EDR

33

Vehicle speed sensor

34

vehicle mountable microphone

35

network attachable to a vehicle

36

ignition switch

40

public network

41, 42

data server

43

query server

50

user

51, 61

mobile phone

52, 62

PC

60

Shop

70

weight list

231-235

speech bubble

Claims (11)

An information management apparatus provided in a management center that manages communication and reception of information between a plurality of mobile information terminals each provided in a plurality of vehicles by wireless communication, the information management apparatus comprising: a post information management unit, the location information, and posting Information that is posted by the mobile information terminals and that combines the received location information and the post information and manages the location information and the post information; A weighting device, wherein the vehicle automatically transmits information indicating the change in the driving environment along with the location information of the vehicle based on detection of a change in a driving environment, and wherein the weighting device sends the post information and the location information based on a combination of the information indicating the change in the driving environment, and the Information that is posted via the mobile information terminals, weighted; and a transmission control unit that, in response to a request from any of the mobile information terminals, selects the managed location information and the managed post information corresponding to the request, and the selected location information and the selected post information, preferably the post information and transmit the location information with high priorities based on the weight, the transmission control unit transmitting the selected location information and the selected post information to the mobile information terminal that sent the request to a display device of the mobile information terminal that sent the request; to allow the selected posting information to be displayed in a superimposing manner at a location of map information displayed by the selected location information, wherein - the weighting device is adapted to a priority level of the mail ing information and location information "high" when a user account of the information indicating the change in the driving environment matches a user account of the information posted via the mobile information terminals, and - the weighting device is adapted to: set the priority level of the post information and the location information to "low" when the user account of the information indicating the change in the driving environment does not coincide with a user account of the information posted via the mobile information terminals. An information management apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the information management apparatus, as information based on an operation of a user of the mobile information terminal, receives the posting information posted along with the location information. An information management apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the posting information posted along with the location information comprises information that has been automatically sent by the mobile information terminal based on an event that has occurred in the mobile information terminal. An information management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that - a terminal is connected to the information management apparatus via a public network; and - the location information and the post information managed by the post information management unit comprise information that has been posted by the terminal connected to the public network. An information management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by further comprising a function of converting the post information of voice data into character data received together with the location information and managing the converted post information. An information management system for mobile information terminals, comprising mobile information terminals each provided in a plurality of vehicles, and an information management apparatus provided in a management center that manages communication and reception of information between the mobile information terminals via wireless communication, each of the vehicle comprises detection means for detecting a change in a driving environment of the vehicle and a communication means for automatically transmitting information indicative of the change in the driving environment detected by the detecting means together with location information of the vehicle to the information managing apparatus, the information managing apparatus comprises: a post information management unit that receives location information and post information posted from any of the mobile information terminals et, and which combines the received location information and the received post information and manages the location information and the post information; Weighting means for weighting the post information and the location information based on a combination of information automatically sent from the communication device and information posted via the mobile information terminals; and a transmission control unit that, in response to a request from any of the mobile information terminals, selects the managed location information and the managed post information corresponding to the request, and the selected location information and the selected post information, preferably the post information and transmit the location information with high priorities based on the weighting to the mobile information terminal, wherein the mobile information terminal that has requested the transmission of the post information is configured to acquire the location information and the post information that are linked together and have been transmitted from the information management device, and to control a display type of a display device such that the detected post information, in a superimposed Is displayed in a location of map information displayed by the acquired location information, the weighting means is adapted to set a priority level of the post information and the location information to "high" when a user account of the information containing the Indicating change in the driving environment, coinciding with a user account of the information posted via the mobile information terminals, and - the weighting means is adapted to set the priority level of the post information and the location information to "low" when the user account of the information that indicates the change in the driving environment, does not match a user account of the information that is posted via the mobile information terminals. The information managing system for mobile information terminals according to claim 6, characterized in that the information management apparatus, as information based on an operation of a user of any of the mobile information terminals, receives the posting information posted along with the location information. The information managing system for mobile information terminals according to claim 7, characterized in that the posting information posted to the information management device together with the location information comprises information automatically sent from the mobile information terminal based on an event that has occurred in the mobile information terminal , Information managing system for mobile information terminals according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that - a terminal is connected to the information management apparatus via a public network; and - the location information and the post information managed by the post information management unit comprise information posted by the terminal connected to the public network. An information managing system for mobile information terminals according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that each of the mobile information terminals has a function of converting the posting information of voice data into character data and transmitting the converted post information to the information managing apparatus. The information managing system for mobile information terminals according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the post information management unit further has a function of converting the post information received together with the location information, voice data into character data, and managing the converted post information having.

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